By any measure, this is an unusual fall. Although we are mere hours away from being thrown into the deep freeze beside the leg of lamb, standing rib roast, pizza's and whatever the hell Grandma sent over to eat last Christmas, it has been a most pleasant fall season for Edmonites. And the hockey team? Well hell, boys and girls, we seem to have fallen into a playoff race. Anyone want to talk about the 2017 draft? Didn't think so.

The St. Louis Blues’ right-handed, puck-moving defenceman is now far and away the best blue liner set to become available on the free agent market this summer. While Shattenkirk isn’t quite the generational talent that Burns is, he’s still one of the game’s best at producing offence from the blue line and would be a welcome addition to just about every team in the league.

Unfortunately, if speculation is correct, there may actually only be one team he’s interested in playing for.

During last night's Sportsnet headlines, Elliotte Friedman made note that the Edmonton Oilers could be looking to move on from Matt Hendricks. In an article posted yesterday evening for the Ottawa Sun, Bruce Garrioch made mention the Oilers could be looking to move Pouliot. What gives?

It's been a long, it's been a long time coming, but the Edmonton Oilers are close to an actual factual playoff race. Early days, but if they can make it through December, everything's going to be alright I know. The McDavid will bring us riches untold and a better day. Will we see an early thaw, or a false spring?